Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Circuit Judge Mark Klingensmith to the 4th District Court of Appeal.

Copyright 2013 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

STUART – Two years after appointing Circuit Judge Mark W. Klingensmith to the bench, Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday elevated the former Sewall's Point mayor to a post on the 4th District Court of Appeal.

"Judge Klingensmith has served Floridians with integrity and distinction," Scott said in a prepared statement. "I am proud to appoint him to the Fourth District Court of Appeal so he can continue his service to our state."

Klingensmith, 52, was appointed to the circuit bench in June 2011 to fill a vacancy left when Scott appointed Judge Burton Conner to the 4th DCA. Klinensmith was unopposed in his November re-election bid.

Prior to taking the bench, Klingensmith had been in private practice in a West Palm Beach law firm and served as chairman of the Republican Party of Martin County. He also served as mayor of Sewall's Point from 2010 to 2011.